Usain Bolt Soccer Tryout: Sprinter Getting A Shot With Manchester United
Usain Bolt has conquered the track world, and now the Jamaican sprinter is looking to fulfill another athletic ambition — a soccer tryout with the Manchester United.
The English Premier League soccer club is giving Bolt a “tryout” after the sprinter discussed his love for soccer, Yahoo! Sports reported. Though Usain Bolt’s soccer tryout is more public relations than anything, the sprinter has insisted that he has the physical tools to make it as a professional footballer.
Usain Bolt’s soccer boasts caught the attention of the Manchester United brass, who invited Bolt to the team’s training facilities near Manchester, a source told Yahoo! Sports.
“Just like everyone else, the players are huge fans of Bolt and have massive respect for him,” the source said. “We would love to have him along. After he spoke about the club after the most-watched race in the world, it makes perfect sense.
“We would welcome him with open arms, and it would certainly make all the boys and the coaching staff pretty excited to meet him and see his skills. They would love to see what he has got with the ball.”
Even if Bolt is a long-shot to make the team, a few well-placed pictures of him jogging around the team’s pitch in Manchester United gear could go a long way for the already popular club. Usain Bolt’s soccer tryout would also be a boost to the team’s players.
“Think about it,” the source said. “It would be the kind of thing that would give everyone a lift. We’ve done similar things before.”
Usain Bolt’s soccer tryout does appear to have the approval of the Manchester United players. Defender Rio Ferdinand tweeted a message of congratulations to Bolt, also welcoming him to try out for the squad, Fox Sports reported.
@usainbolt if you want that trial at Man Utd shout me, I’ll speak to the boss!! Well done in 100m, waiting for you to smash the 200m now!— Rio Ferdinand (@rioferdy5) August 7, 2012
Bolt replied jokingly … or maybe not … that he was game for the soccer tryout.
After the Olympics we work on that…lol..thanks man
@rioferdy5— Usain St. Leo Bolt (@usainbolt) August 7, 2012
Despite being the fastest man in the world, it’s not likely that Usain Bolt’s soccer tryout results in a spot on the team. He would be competing against players who have trained in soccer their entire lives.
